Improvement in surgical splints



TocZZ whom` it m y` Beit knownthat, i Goshen, inthe count `India-na,havellinven fulmrrdveufentsi ophereby decla nd .exact descri beine hadtotth making part` of tis s MrLroN LATTA, of Elkhartand State of;`certain new and useical `Splints; `and I lowing to be a fulll f `thesame, reference e faccompanying.4 drawings,

cation,jin which, opvew of `a splint ustratin g Amyrinvenevation of thesame., ,V ction at aux. Fig Liis a vertical section at y y,f`lliig. l,illustrating the i anner of adaptingtheapparatus for measur-f`Wpurposes, ashereinafter explained. `,Similarletters,of u ence indicatecorre- 1 spondy'ingparts inthe veralviews.` 1 The subject ofthisinvention is a `splint de#y r "signed chiefly *for `the treatmentlof fractures nd ctherjdiseasesl ofgthe long bones 4of the: andi ceaincases ofthe arm 's also `applicable lfor l 'llbe explained. einventfnep,` arly consists, `first, y ,ethodlo makingthe counter-extension u onthe, `splintsof'as `to avoid pressure upon nder partSOf herern; SQOOndfHapplyng the splint upon which' the counter-exten-l i' h soundinstead `ofto the relying the.` To enable oth illd in the art to make iITE .STATESrearfend of the cylinder G, `so as to conti `iran improved mannerof f,the cross-head E at the upper end of the shaft pI `will proceed to ,dee

' collar I through a slot in the cylinder G, and

rovided wi th sockets receive a crosshead, f a rigid extension-rod,`

PATENT OFFICE.

, M`.LA.T`TA, oF GosHEN, INDIANA.

it/IBROVEMENT IN SURGICALSPLINTS.l

timing part or nemers patent No. 35,614, dated June i7, rees.

L `threaded tosome distance, and passes through the center of thecross-bar D and through a cylinder, G, projecting backward therefrom. .rHis an elongated nut or sleeve threaded upon the shaft F and adapted toturn freely but confined from lon collarI. r y

K is a yoke attached at eachof its extremities to the cross-bar D andpassing around the ne it between the said yoke and cross-bar. The yokeKaffords a bearing within whichthe nut `or screw-sleeve H` turns andslides freely.

h is a key by which the `nut H is turned. A smaller yoke, securedadjustably to the cross-bar D at any distance from the center and at"the opposite end from that at which the long splint A is attached, asbefore stated. Ihe foot-board is formed with a central aperture, m, Fig.3, to accommodatethe extensionloop, as hereinafter explained. Y

N is a hook swiveled upon the end of a screwrod, O, which isthreaded inthe yoke L.

o is a key by which the rod O is rotated. l The ends of the cross-bar Dare bent in the `formrepresented iii-Fig. 3, so as to produce`downwardly-projecting arms d, in the lower ends of which are placedrollersRR, to adapt the bar to move freely upon any smooth and hardsurface.

P is a crutch-head, which is substituted for F, for measuring purposes.

i is an index or pointer projecting fronnthe ,serving to indicate bymeans of a scale upon `tensional force exerted on the spring.

The manner of using the apparatus isas follows: The drawings representthe parts in poleg.

e saidf4 rod is `screwsecured by straps q with sufiicient firmness towithina coupling-ccllar, I, upon its front end, Y

to the cross-bar and at itsrear end to the L, and a foot-board, lVI, arev the said cylinder (see Fig. 1) the degree of sition for treatment of afracture of the right give steadiness. The cross-head E is then slippedinto the sockets a c and the springs B B attached. The adhesive plastershaving been applied and properly secured to the sides of the affectedlimb, so as to form a loop below the sole of the foot, the said loop isthen passed through the aperture m and attached to the hook N, and thelatter retracted by means of the screw-rod O until the sole of the footis drawn smoothly against the foot-board. A sufficient degree ofextension is then produced by turning the nut H by means of the key h,after which the seat of the fracture is dressed with side splints incustomary manner.

By making the lower member of the long clamp-nuts a the said splint maybe lengthcned or shortened, as required, and thus adapted for .limbs ofany length.

For treating the left leg the long splint A and its appurtenances arechanged to the right -side and the short splint A', foot-board M,

yoke L, Src., to the left.

To suit different classes of fractures and of subjects, the rods C C andyoke L may be set nearer together or farther apart by inserting theminany of the holes d d.

I f the Weight of the sound limb and the consequent friction upon thesplint A be not sufficient to resist the countereextension, anynecessary friction can be produced by tightening the straps g. In eithercase the pressure is exerted on the head of the sound bone, whichpressure with perfect impunity, instead of by ligatures around thegroin, as in modes generally in use.

It is very difficult by any ordinary means to ascertain the exact lengthof a limb when the patient has an interest in deceiving the surgeon. Hemay produce apparently, an

actual shortening or elongation of the` limb by voluntary contraction orextension of the muscles, and various other devices.

When the above-described apparatus is to be used to measure the relativelength of a healed and an uninjured limb, thes plints A and A andcross-head E are removed and the crutch-head P substituted for thelatter, the shaft being made sufficiently long by screwing on anadditional link, if needful. The crutch being then placed under thegroin, one of the feet is connected to the hook N and a sufficientdegree of extension produced to overcome all voluntary muscularcontraction. The length of the leg may then be accurately measured bythe scale upon the shaft F, after which the nut H is turned back so asto release the spring J. The yoke L and its accessories are then movedto the other side, the -other foot attached, an equal extension forceapplied, and the measure taken. The relative length of the limbs canthus be exactly determined, and as the measurement proceeds from a fixedpoint exactly alike on both sides all elements of doubt or deception areremoved.

A portion of the above invention, with such splint A in two piecessecured together bymodifications as will readily sugges themselves tothe mind of the skillful pract tioner, may in some cases be applied tothe tr atment of fractures and diseases of the arm.

The above-described apparatus possesses the following advantages overthose in common use:

First. The counter-extension is made wholly lupon the splint itself,thus avc ding the pressure on and injury to the soft parts, as isliabieto be the case with all t f the usual methods. As no presure is made onany tender part there is no nger that the exte on will have to beslacker ed at any time du g the treatment, at the risk of short ning thelimb.

Second. The main d s'ing is applied on the sound limb, thus making theextension permanent without ir terfering with the dressing of thefractured or diseas d limb. The swelling or shrinking of the brc renlimb, with the consequent displacement of bandages,will have no power toproduce shor ening, the extension being independent of all such conditions.

Third. The index and scale show the surgeen at a glance wher? er therehas been any displacement of the apparatus-thus, if after the registerstands at any particular figure it is only requisite to make a note ofthe fact,

is adapted to bear many times the amountof that can be referred to at afuture visit, and so long as the register re airis at the same pointthere can be no displacement. t t t y y y y y 'y Fourth.` In caseofulceration of the head of the thigh-bone there is often as muchtenderness on the inside as on the outside of the joint. As thisinstrument is applied on the opposite side, no inconvenience is felt andno delay need be suffered. The tendernessof the groin frequently makesit impossible to continue the necessary counter-extension. All this isobviated by placing the dressing on the sound limb.

Fifth. The counter-extension being made fromthe sound limb, the dressingimmediately about the fracture can be removed at pleasure, enabling thesurgeon to see at all times the condition, and to make out accuratelythe shape and length of the limb. All thisis impossible when thedressing envelops the limb.

Sixth. In case of compound fracture, full extension can be kept upwithout any dressing whatever having been applied to the affected limb.y

Seventh. The extension being made on the sound side (and not to be aected by fluctuations in the size of the limb) can be made permanentfrom thevery first, and it is claimed that by keeping the parts exactlyin position and Without movement the time required to effect a union maybe materially lessened.

Eighth. The extension being made on the limbs themselves enables thepatient to sit up or lie down at pleasure. The advantages thus derivedto the patient are obvious. In the only method within my knowledge whichadthe necessary amount )f extension is effected i method. Insuc minadeto applydres ng m `leased. at `will for measuring, inspectionporany purpose.: p f

" observed. p

. ingthe relative length offfa healed and an unf injured limb withaccuracy and Without the "possibility of deception.

` f `LettersPatent,` is- N it nden-e 3 ,patient is f th e is theinsuper-` at of `thefracture is nd condition of the rvation. t nrc ofthe neck of the v plied on thesound side iiija` manner so easy as toetterthan -by` `any other splint A by springs ses no attempt wouldbe onthe seat of i fracture. .t Tenth. Theextension attachment being appliedto "the foot "independently 'ofthe footboard admits of thefootbeingexposed or re- Eleventh.` By dressingthe limb naked any lateralprojection ofthe `Icone `can be readily .l Twelfth. Aj method yis wordedfordeteninl i Th""short splintA'is not essential to the invention, andin; somecases Will be entirely dispensedwith. `When the fracture isbelow the knee, the dressings may, if preferred, be

ylent devices, subs antially as described, to

show the amount of extending force applied. V4. Attaching the cross-barDto the long B B, which permit the descent of the cross-bar, retain thesplint in correct position, and equalize the tension upon both ends ofthe bar, so as to cause it to slide freely on the shaft F.

frame, substantially as described, to adapt it to move withoutobstruction.

l?, extension devices L N O, spring J, and in-` dex t', for the purposeof measuring the relative length of a healed and an uninj ured limb, asexplained.

7. In combination with a foot-board, M, rigof theextenson to the footindependently of the said foot-board, substantially as and Vfor thepurposes described. y

i MILTON M. LATTA.

Witnesses Oo'rAviUs KNIGHT,

I claim therein asnew, anddesre to secure by GnARLEs SMi'rH.

5. Supporting the cross-barD upon a truckv 6. The combination of thegraduated crutch idly secured to the cross-bar D,the application p

